Mazowsze celebrates 65th anniversary
If Mazowsze operated in Britain, it would certainly have the patronage and care of the Queen, and the ensemble would be a national treasure and the best export product. In Poland, respect for this extraordinary project was doubtful at times, and many fans of Mazowsze's performances complained that they perform more often abroad than in the country. Now the situation is more favourable because the dancers and musicians were given a new home - the European Centre for the Promotion of Regional and National Culture 'Matecznik-Mazowsze' in Otrębusy, where practice and work on a regular basis. The current tour of the ensemble takes place on the occasion of the 65th anniversary; soon Mazowsze will celebrate a round anniversary.
The Sygietyński's wartime agreement
The State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble was founded in 1948 and opted for by none other but the Minister of Culture and Art himself. Over the years, Mazowsze was associated with two great figures - composer and ethnographer Tadeusz Sygietyński and his wife, actress Mira Zimińska-Sygietyńska. Still in the early '40s, in the turmoil of war, the spouses promised each other that when the war ends, they will create an ensemble. They were the parents of Mazowsze's success; they were choosing the repertoire, making journeys around the country in search of costumes, recording songs which their later included in their repertoire. At first, dancers and singers performed a repertoire mainly native to Mazovia, but then it was extended. Today, you can admire the costumes and songs from all over Poland.
Polonaises, obereks, masurias
Mazowsze is ambassador of folk culture; when watching their performances, it is worth listening to the songs because they contain all Polish dances - the polonaise, the krakowiak, the mazurka, the kujawiak. Rhythms, which we often remember today only when listening to Chopin (he 'smuggled' folk melodies, especially to his mazurkas) or Szymanowski. Meanwhile, the Mazowsze is also fantastic, very professionally prepared dance performances with choreography referring to that of the historic Polish folklore ceremonies.
Concert of Mazowsze at the Centennial Hall on October 19 at 7 pm. Tickets cost 65-100 PLN and are available at biletin.pl, in the Centennial Hall box office, or by email order at [email protected]
